Aquatic merry-go-round.



No. 862,157. PATENTED AUG. 6, 1907. H. HEALY.

AQUATIC MERRY-GO-ROUND. APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 3, 1906 3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

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Wit-a1 moan a 7zz/wm 77:1 yflm gym/W No. 862,157; I PATENTED AUG. 6,1907.

H..HE-ALY.

AQUATIC MERRY-GO-ROUND.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 3, 1906.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

scnted.

burrs HENRY H EALY, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

AQUATIC MERRY-GO-ROUNED.

, Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 6, 1907.

Application filed August 3, 1906. Serial No- 329,054.-

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY IIEALY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Buffalo, in'the county of Erie and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Aquatic Merry-Go-Rounds;and-I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of referencemarked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention consists of an aquatic merry goqound, or in other Words acombination of novel features by means of which a pleasure trip isprovided in a boat, which travels in a fixed course through a waterway,both sides of which are made to represent a particular locality.

In carrying out my invention l make use of a system of canal propulsion,for which Letters Patent No. 738,190 were granted to me on the 8th. dayof September, 1903, such-system involving broadly, a waterway, aguiderail in the line of the waterway and connections on the boat forholding engagement with the guide-rail, in their travel along the saine.

The object of my invention, primarily, is to simulate a trip of The Maidof the Mist in the Niagara river, or a trip through the Rapids andWhirlpool, or any other localities of a similarly interesting orexciting character. These features are to be located at the midways ofworlds fairs, or at permanent pleasure resorts, for catering to theentertainment of the public. Both the surrounding scenery and the travelupon the water are to be reproduced in a realistic manner and as nearlytrue to nature as is possible with artistic and mechanical means, whichinclude running and falling water and the rolling'and tossing of theboats.

My invention therefore consists broadly of a waterway, preferablycircular or endless, a series of boats for travel in such waterway, aguide-rail or rails in such waterway, either above the surface of thewater or on the bottom of the waterway, for causing the boats to traveliii a fixed path, by means of arms upon the boats and in holdingengagement with the guide-rail or rails, along which the arms travel,suitable power for propeL ling the boats in a direction parallel to theguide-rail or,

rails, raised sections in the bottom of the waterway, over which theboats are caused to ride in simulating the action of the tossing waterof the Whirlpool Rapids and other necessary features for accuratelyproducing the natural scenery of the locality sought to be repreln thedrawings, Figure l is a perspective view of my aquatic mcrry-go-round.Fig. 2 is a r ont elevation of a boat with necessary features for travelalong :1 track upon the bottom of the waterway. Fig. 3 is a sideelevation of a boat traveling alongundulating rails on the bottom of thewaterway. Fig. 4 shows a modified form of the bottom of the waterway,in'which the bottom is of undulating form and provided with frictionrollers over which the boat is caused to pass. Fig. 5 is a fragmentarydetail illustrating the application of guiding boats, as covered by myLetters Latent herein named. Fig. 6 illustrates a modified form ofpropelling the boats. Fig. 7 illustrates the application of my improvedsystem to a figure eight track. Fig. 8 illustrates a movable track withboats secured thereto at intervals, such track and the boats thereonhaving an undulating or rolling motion. i

Referring to the drawings, 1 is the outer cylindrical wall and 2 theinner cylindrical wall, forming an annular space in which is arrangedthe circular waterway 3, around which the pleasure boats 4 are to. bepropelled in opposite directions, as shown in Fig. .1.

On the left of Fig. 1 are shown the guide-rails 5, 5, which arecentrally arranged along the waterway 3, and

upon the sides of each boat are arranged the vertically adjustable arms6 (see Figs. 1 and 5) carrying at their outer ends the friction-wheels7, for holding engage-,1

ment with the guide-rails 5, in their travel along the same.

In order to hold the friction-wheel 7 in engagement with the guide-rails5, I have provided the following construction. At the outercnd of thearm 6, are the downwardly extending and inwardly extending arms 8 and 9,respectively carrying the anti-friction rollers 10 and 11, which bearagainst the side and under surfaces of the guide-rail 5. Hinged to thearm 6 is the horizontal arm 12, upon which is pivoted the frictionroller7, which has bearing contact with the tread of the guiderail 5. j

At the outer end of arm 12 are the downwardly extending and inwardlyextending arms 13 and 14, re-

spectively carrying the anti-friction rollers 15 and 16, I

which bear against the side and under Surfaces of the guide-rail-f). I

17 is a spring catch-arm rigid with the arm 12 and adapted for removableengagement with the arm 6,

for holding the anti-friction device on the rail 5 or for releasing thesame. 1 v

In Fig. 2 I illustrate the manner of propelling the boat 1- along tworails 18, 18, on the bottom of the waterway3, as shown on the right-handside of Fig. l.

The bottom of the boat, at each end, is provided with the axle 19,having the spring 20 interposed between it and the boat. 21, 21, arestiff spiral springs secured to the boat 4 and axle'l9 and Z2, 22, areloose chains connecting the boat with the outer ends of the axles. Onthe right-hand side is shown the antifriction device disengaged from therail. On each side of the waterway, at intcrvalsfl construct theprojecting obstructions 22S and 24, against which the boat strikes, togivc it a struetion 23, prevent the injurious scraping oi the boat andthe'rollers 25, 26 may be made of rubber to'ense} the jar. v

In Fig. 3 I have shown the rails 18 with rises 27 and depressions 28, togive to the boat a. pitching motion in its travel.

Fig. 4 shows :tinodification of the 'above construction, in which themils are replaced hy friction-rollers. 29 extending across the waterwayand up and down 1 the rises and depressions. I

The power which I preiembly employ is the trolley system shown in Fig.1, but in lieu thereof a. central shaft 30 (see Fig. 6) with radial arms31 may be sub stituted, the outer ends of which are connected with thehosts 4 by the lines 32.

In'Fig. 7 .l-have shown nnnodification in which the track is in the formof o figure eight, as at 33 and in Fig. 8 I have shown another modifiition in which the boats 4 are secured to an endless flexible track 34,which is caused to move in an undulating motion, to simulate thepitching of the waves.

The trip represented in Fig. l is that of the Maid of the Mist below thefalls and lhe trsvel ol the heat is on a level track, as shown.

"If a. trip through the Rapids rind Whirlpool is to be represented, thescenery is to he correspondingly changed. The rises 27 and depressions28 (see Fig. 3) and the obstruetions 23, 24 (see Fig. 2) are also to hei utilized, in which event the boat will pitch on the uneven mils andstrike the side obstructions, thus giving the boat a pitching androlling motion in imitation of a. trip through the Wave-tossed Rapids.

I claim.

1. In 'an amusement device, a. writer-Way, guiding means in thewaterway, :1. heat for travel in the waterway, and spring controlledmeans detnchnbly connecting the bout to the guiding means. I I

2. In an amusement device, a water-way, guiding means in the water-Way,and means detachuhly connecting the boat to the guiding means, theconnecting means including antifrietion rollers and a spring connection.

3. In. un'umnsement device. a water-way arranged be tween wnlls, :iguiding means in the waiter-way, a. heat for travel in the waterway,moans detzichahly connecting the host to the guiding means and meanscarried by the side of the boat to contact with said wells.

4. In an amusement device, s'water-way arranged be tween walls. itguiding means in the waterway, a boat for travel in the water-way,spring; controlled means connecting the boat and the guiding means, andmeans carried by the sides of the host lo contact with the walls alongthe water-why. w

5. in an amusement device, a water-Way arranged be tween we] a, guidingmeans in the writer-way, said guiding moans luwingnu uneven surface torock the host ionglfw llimilly 01' its length, means detnchabiyconnecting the host or the gold in means, and means carried by the boatfor engagement with said walls to rock the boat from side to side, andmeans for propelling the boat along said guiding lllilflXJS.

in testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HENRY HEALY.

Witnesses:

W1 '1. Mrntnn, JOHN O. ADSIL.

